Pathfinder: A Western Double

by Ash Lingam

He left Indiana with a rifle and a dream—now the mountains will decide his fate.

Pathfinder

Levi Beaver Johnson was born to the woods of southeastern Indiana, where he earned the nickname “Trapper Boy” long before he came of age. With a sharp eye and a steady hand, he became known as the best shot in the state—and the traps he built were second to none.

But Levi wanted more than a reputation. He wanted the wild. So he left home and headed west, determined to become the mountain man he had always dreamed of being. His journey takes him to the frontier forts of Kansas, where he signs on as an army scout to earn his way into the Rockies and beyond. The road ahead is unknown, and danger waits at every turn.

Rusty Steel

At a frontier rendezvous, Levi and Captain Bill Forrester meet Rusty Steel, a rough-edged trapper with a past as wild as the mountains he now calls home. Alongside Rusty and his crew, Levi and the captain ride deep into the Western Rockies, where they find a compound of three cabins—home to seasoned trappers who’ve survived in the wilderness for decades.

As Levi and Bill learn the brutal lessons of mountain life, they face a question every greenhorn must can they rise to the challenge, or will they fall like so many who came before?

This two-book bundle, including Pathfinder and Rusty Steel, tells the origin of Levi Johnson’s rise from greenhorn to mountain man. Get your copy today and ride into the unforgiving West—where legends are born in blood, brotherhood, and wilderness.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 3, 2025

About the author

Ash Lingam was born and raised in Southern Ohio, not far from the mighty Ohio River. He had somewhat of an isolated upbringing on a family farm with his sisters. His best friends were his horse, Sugar, and his grandfather.
Born in 1886, the family patriarch grew crops, raised cattle, and doted on the young boy. At his grandfather’s side, Ash learned about livestock and firearms at an early age. His grandad carried an old Colt with him at all times, helping spawn a young boy’s dreams of yesteryear.
Ash was only eight years old when his grandad taught him how to trap muskrats to prevent them from draining the farm’s ponds. He gave him a double-barreled shotgun at twelve and taught him how to hunt to put food on the table.
It wasn’t long before Ash was breaking horses. His spirited Tennessee Walker never allowed any other rider on her back. Together, they searched through the plowed fields in the spring, looking for Miami Indian arrowheads to add to his grandfather’s ample collection.
Ash’s family was among the early settlers in pre-Revolutionary America. He has traced his lineage back to around 1746 when his ancestors immigrated from Europe to the aspiring American Colonies.
A retired marketing executive, Ash devotes his spare time to training police dogs and writing novels. He has found his niche in the Western, historical fiction, and adventure genres. With his vast vault of experience, he never runs out of sources for new stories. He has lived in eleven different countries and worked in a total of forty-six,
To date, Ash has written approximately 130 novels, short stories, and poems. More than one hundred of his eclectic titles help the American frontier come alive for his readers.

Reviews

[FredM2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gives you two for your enjoyment. The first is PATHFINDER and the second is RUSTY STEEL.
PATHFINDER is about Levi Beaver Johnson. Beaver grew up in Indiana and was supplying the family with meat from the age of 8. He was always dreaming of becoming a mountain man. Finally in his teens he set out on his journey. Along the way he had many adventures prior to the mountains. He was an Army scout for awhile and was chosen to lead an expedition west to the coast, California or Oregon. Along the way the caravan was attacked by indians and half of the expedition members were lost. Five mountain men joined the remaining and they continued West. Several mountain men joined up with Levi's group and they went to rendezvous where Levi finally gets accepted to be one of the mountain men. Although this was fiction it gives a good picture of the live in the early 1800 of the western frontier mountain men.
RUSTY STEEL is about a boy that gets a second chance and how his life unfolded. He becomes a captain of a river boat and then it all goes to #@%#. Rusty lives a hermit life for ten years and then becomes a part of a group of mountain men. This story is a continuation of what stared in the first story. I really look forward to more as these were very descriptive and interesting.

[dennis wyatt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Levi mountain man scout

Sorry I purchased several of books by this author the first chapter turned me off with the mountain lion jumping in the river and chasing Levi in his canoe ------sure. Then calling the same Indian a crow then Sioux which is he. The many dangers the mountain man faced bull buffalo grizzly bears and leopards . Leopards? I'm surprised Dire wolves weren't lurking behind ever Bush. Then loading misleading rifles in 20 seconds yup not to brag but I can get two aimed shots in a minute loading from the bag with my flinlocks . I am very curious how to open the chamber on a Hawken rifle none of my replicas can be opened unless you call pulling the breach plug

[Steve Erdody · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hate to say it..

I love mountain man stories, but this one did not capture me like some others. A lot of ti.e was spent on Rusty going up the river, but nothing on his development as a mountain man.

Also, it may have been just the Kindle version but there were some inconsistencies that did not line up with the storyline.

Just my $.02

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story, itself, was pretty enjoyable. The characters were very like able. The book did not flow very well, though. Also, some of the topics were dwelled on and rehashed to the point where I found myself skimming through pages to get past it.

[deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A time past

Loved the characters. The prose flows with wonderful descriptions of a time passed.
Honourable and believable characters.
Looking forward to more

[Tim McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining; a good read.

[Vince Pillig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Enjoy this Moves right along hold your attention Tell us a good story Enjoyable reading May I have to read more from this author

[Roland Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

Kept me wondering what would happen next.
Gave good historical information while keeping my interest. The captain could be written out sooner.

[Linda Cooper]

Great book

Sure did enjoy this book.loved the storm about all the mountain men as they were introduced to the story.
Loved the it party and games at the summer games and contest.